Device for applying labels

ABSTRACT

A device for applying labels includes a roller that carries a tape that includes plural labels that run along a guide-wedge that produces a change in direction that produces the detachment of the labels. A head is connected to a suction circuit and to a blower device, whose operation are governed by a pneumatic distributor, so that when the label is detached from the tape, suction is produced so that the label is retained at the head. The label then is blown to project it energetically over the surface of a product on which it is adhered by the action of the impulsion. The head has a homogeneously multiperforated surface that facilitates the homogenous impulsion of the label.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention in question refers to a device for applying labels. Itspurpose is to provide greater speed in labelling, and to increase theefficiency of the marking line.

The purpose of the invention is furthermore to make the labellingwithout the applicator devices coming into contact with the surface ofthe product that is to be labelled, and to prevent the product fromsuffering any kind of damage in the labelling.

The invention can be applied to the labelling of food products,preferably fruit, but it can obviously be used in any kind of productthat needs to be labelled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A close state of the art to the invention in question is made up of thePatent of Invention P-9601222 whose owner is the same as the owner ofthe present invention, and it describes a device that will allow theautomatic sticking of labels that are adhered on a longitudinal strip ofwaxed paper that determines a roll and that furthermore counts on amotor that performs the unwinding of the waxed paper. This waxed paperruns across a circuit that includes a guide-wedge making it possible forthe waxed paper to change direction brusquely causing the labels to bedetached from it. The labels are thus left in a condition to be adheredto the surface to be marked by means of a dual effect cylinder that isfinished off at the bottom by an applicator whose surface in contactwith the label is slightly concave. The label is retained on thiscylinder by effect of the traction produced by the static electricity onthe labels when rubbing against the rollers, after separating thelabels. All of this is performed so that by means of a photocell, thepass of the product to be marked is detected, activating the dual effectcylinder until the applicator comes in contact with the surface to bemarked on which the label is stuck.

This type of device presents the inconvenience that the speed of markingis limited by the label application device, and also this needs to be incontact with the product to be marked, such that the surface couldsuffer damage. This is more likely to occur in the labelling of foodproducts.

In order to avoid any contact between the label application device andthe product to be marked, EP-A-0908390 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,406disclose a device for applying labels comprising an applicator surfaceprovided with a plurality of openings through which a suction isestablished to retain the label (once detached from the label strip) andthrough which pressurized air is delivered to propel the label towardsan article to be marked.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention has developed a new device for applying labels thatembodies a roll of tape to which a plurality of labels are adhered, thatare aligned longitudinally. The invention furthermore has means thatcause the label to become detached from the tape, and it has means forapplying the labels on the product to be marked. The tape is unwound bya motor that activates drive rollers and a tape winding recovery rollerafter the labels are detached. It is characterized in that the means forapplying the label are made up of suction means of the detached label,by retention means of that detached label, and by blowing means of theretained label, so that these blowing means energetically project thelabel over the surface of the product to be marked on which it is stuckwithout there being contact between the application means of the labeland the labelled product, which represents a big advantage. Thisadvantage is more desirable when it is obtained in the case when thesurface of the product to be marked does not have a certain degree ofsolidity, as occurs with products such as fruit, or food products ingeneral.

The means for withholding the detached label include a head throughwhich the suction is applied to retain the sticker, and through whichthe blowing is also applied on the retained sticker to make it stick onthe surface of the product.

In a preferable execution, the head has a homogeneously multiperforatedsurface, through the perforations of which the suction and blowing airflows, so that the air flow is broken down into numerous push andabsorption points, that are evidently distributed homogeneously, makinga correct absorption of the label, and it also has an absolutely flatprojection.

Another characteristic of the invention lies in the fact that apneumatic distributor has been foreseen that is controlledelectronically to govern the suction function and the projectionfunction of the label.

The suction means include a suction circuit that is connected to thehead and to the pneumatic distributor.

In addition, the blowing means have a fast release valve, that feeds thehead, and whose operation is controlled by the pneumatic distributor.

The blowing means also have a pressure accumulator that is connected tothe fast release valve to provide additional pressure to the head and toimpel the label with suitable force against the surface of the productto be marked.

The invention device is fitted on a support that can be regulatedaccording to shafts X and Y to facilitate the labelling of a pluralityof food products that occupy a certain surface, so that a wider area canbe labelled, for example a box of fruit.

To facilitate a better understanding of this description and forming anintegral part of it, a number of figures are included that represent thepurpose of the invention by an illustrative and non-restrictive way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1.—Shows a schematic front view of the label applicator device ofthe invention. It also shows the detail of how the label is detached tofacilitate its suction.

FIG. 2.—Shows a schematic sectioned view of a possible example ofexecution of the head that forms part of the device that is the purposeof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION

A description follows showing an invention based on the figuresdiscussed above.

The label applicator of the invention comprises a frame 1 in which aroll-holder shaft 2 is included that retains a roll of tape 3 of waxedpaper that comprises a support for a plurality of self-adhesive labels 4of plastic material or by-products, that are aligned longitudinally onthe tape 3.

A guide-wedge 5 has been provided on frame 1 along which the tape 3passes, that turns round at the end of the guide-wedge 5, passing over aroller 6 that leads the tape without labels 4, to drive rollers 7 tocome out on the recovery roller 9. To obtain this functionality, frame 1also supports the motor 8 that produces the drag movement of the tape 3in the manner described above.

The process for unsticking the labels 4 can be executed in the mannerdescribed in the Patent n ^(o) P-9601222 cited in section of Antecedentsof the Invention, or in any other manner, because this unsticking doesnot constitute the purpose of the invention.

The novelty and purpose of the invention is focused on the device thatincludes a head 10 that by means of a conduit 11 is connected to suctioncircuit 12.

In addition, the head 10 is connected to a quick release valve 13 thatby means of a conduit 14 is connected to a pressure accumulator 15.

Furthermore the quick release valve 13 and the suction circuit 12 areconnected to a pneumatic distributor 16, that is electronicallycontrolled to govern the working of the quick release valve 13 and ofthe suction circuit 12, as will be described later.

The head 10 is made up of a homogeneously multiperforated surface 19 tofacilitate the operation described below.

Based on the described structure, it can be easily understood that whena label 4 is almost detached from the tape 3, this label 4 lies facingand near the multiperforated surface 19, so that if under thiscircumstance, the pneumatic distributor 16 activates the suction circuit12, an inlet of air flow is produced through the perforations of thehead 10, such that label 4 is absorbed and is retained on themulti-perforated surface 19. The suction effect can also be used to helpdetach the label.

In this situation, when the pass of a product 18 is detected, forexample an apple moving along a conveyor belt 17, the pneumaticdistributor 16 activates the quick release valve 13, that through thepressure accumulator 15 produces a blast of air that projects thesticker 4 on the surface of the product 18, thus sticking the label 4 onthe surface of that product 18.

This operation is favoured by the fact that the orifices of themultiperforated surface 19 are distributed homogeneously, so that theflow of air is broken up into numerous push points distributedhomogeneously so that the label is projected completely flat.

Consequently the electronic control is connected to the correspondingsensors that detect the presence of the label 4 and the product 18 to bemarked for controlling the correct working of the pneumatic distributor16 materialised in an electro-valve.

Although it is not shown in the figures, the device described can befitted on a support that allows it to be a larger labelling surface, asfor example the case of labelling fruit stacked up in boxes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for applying labels, comprising: a rollof tape that supports a plurality of aligned longitudinally labels;means that produce a detachment of the labels from the tape; applicationmeans for applying the labels to a product to be marked, which comprise:suction means of the detached label, retention means where the detachedlabel is held by said suction means, and blowing means of the detachedand retained label; a motor that drives drive rollers to unwind thetape; and a recovery roller for winding the tape once the labels havebeen detached; the blowing means including a pressure accumulator toprovide additional pressure to energetically project the label to asurface of a product to be marked, such that the label is stuck on saidsurface, the blowing means also including an electronically controlledpneumatic distributor to control the suction and projection of thelabel, and a quick release valve controlled by the pneumatic distributorto provide a quick release of pressurized air accumulated by thepressure accumulator so that the label is projected towards the surfaceof the product to be marked.
 2. The device for applying labels accordingto claim 1, wherein the retention means includes a head through whichthe suction is applied to retain the label, and through which theblowing of the retained label is also applied to perform the sticking onthe surface of the product.
 3. The device for applying labels accordingto claim 2, wherein the head includes a homogeneously multiperforatedsurface, through which perforations passes the suction-blowing air, sothat the projection of the label is made completely flat because the airflow is discomposed in numerous thrust points distributed homogeneously.4. The device for applying labels according to claim 1, wherein thesuction means is determined by a suction circuit that is connected tothe head and to the pneumatic distributor.
 5. The device for applyinglabels according to claim 1, further comprising a support with aregulation which permits to shift said device along a first axis (X) andalong to a second axis (Y).